Estimation of TBM performance due to the muck shape and size – A case study of Golab II water transfer tunnel

Abstract: Estimation of TBM performance and the interaction between design and operational characteristics of the machine and muck quality is a complex and nonlinear problem. A field study in a TBM driven tunnel was carried out to compile a database consisting of machine operational factors and muck shape and size parameters. Statistical analysis was used to investigate the correlation between these two parameters. The analysis showed that there is a meaningful correlations between machine input and output. The analysis of the relationship between operating parameters and penetration rate showed that there are upper and lower critical limits for net penetration, outside which the cutting efficiency decreases.